So - after buying the Viner from vaeske and loving it, picking up a Europa from El Brado and loving it, buying the tamari as a ready to build frameset and dropping a few on Erle's Kotter (welcome back, welcome back, welcome back), its time to restore the Viner and the Europa. Heresy, I hear you say, however the Viner needs a restoration to keep it in a good condition into the future. I'd call it conservation, as opposed to preservation.

Details as follows:

Viner8 speed campagnolo group, to shimano cassette using a Wheels Mfg Shift-8 spacer kit. I'm really interested to see how this works. Grey with yellow decals - standard issue colour from the early 80s. Decals sourced from Greg (cyclomondo).

Europa7 speed DT shifting Shimano 600 group - to keep Wal happy Teal with a chrome fork (was lurking under respray #3) - after seeing Chris' thread on his pearl cannondale I considered pearl for a second, but decided against it. Decals also from cyclomondo.

I've effectively sorted out the build details for each build, and am waiting on a number of parts from the UK, Netherlands and Spain. 95% of it is here though, and good to go. Plan is to get the frames stripped, painted, decal-led and clear coated, then left to cure for 6 weeks while I'm away in Germany on holiday (and looking for frames). I'll update you on the details in future posts.

Until then, photos....

Viner - As bought and in present form

Europa as bought

Oh, and a bit of stripping and polishing this morning resulted in this....

Went for a spin with elantra this morning, hit a few hills, became moderately short of breath, etc. Then came home and set about sorting the parts for these two.

The Europa is getting a tricolour group - 6400 series with dual pivot brakes, 7 speed indexed downtube shifting. Actually, the cranks are 6200 series but I can switch that out easily enough in time. These parts are all here and waiting, so in effect its ready to go once we return from holidays.

The Viner is still getting an 8 speed campag group, with ergos, however I'm going to try a HG cassette with spacer kit to match the campag index. I have the front derailleur, and I think I have the crankset too, however I'm waiting on the shifters to arrive, and am in the process of sourcing dual pivots and a rear derailleur as we speak.

BUT: Today's progress:

Gave the frames a 2000 grit wet rub this morning, then sponged down and let them dry. First coat of colour on - a light guide coat, then full coverage 5 mins afterwards.

For the Europa, I'm aiming for a light teal, so the first layer is a silver - if any of it reads through the final coat it'll come across as a metallic fleck, which isn't so bad.

The Viner got the same silver as a guide coat, but with a grey full colour coat following that. I don't think the silver will show after the second coat of grey, but after seeing this, I'd be happy to throw down another light silver coat before the final grey goes on...

And finally, a rather boring photo of the Viner fork - the Europa has a chrome fork, which is sitting on the back deck ready to go.

Great progress. My favourite photo shows your great spray booth. I've always used old cotton sheets which are just about useless. Your use of plastic tarps is a much better idea that I will have to pinch.Thanks.

Thanks Gary. It's not an ideal setup, as all my tarps don't go to the floor, but the small gap at the bottom gives a) access and b) vacuum properties. As long as its still(ish) it works really well. And hey, I'm painting with rattle cans

I'm excited about the Viner the most - it rides so well and its a shame to have it off the road for even a week....

BRLVR.v2 wrote:What's that indentation on the down tube all about? Looks kinda weird in the way it presents.

I thought that too, but then saw its regular - its just the recess for the inner chain ring along the chainstay (unless there's a ding in the downtube I've missed?) - sorry, photographing with the light, not per driveside rule.

BRLVR.v2 wrote:What's that indentation on the down tube all about? Looks kinda weird in the way it presents.

I thought that too, but then saw its regular - its just the recess for the inner chain ring along the chainstay (unless there's a ding in the downtube I've missed?) - sorry, photographing with the light, not per driveside rule.

ignore my Q... I'm such a retard... Just noticed it's the drive side chain stay and not the down tube like I previously thought. I really need to pay more attention. As cool as these build are gonna be, i've gotta say that the tamari you have is by far the pick of the bunch IMHO.

I then set the frames into a hot car (thanks spirito) to cure a bit more rapidly. Opened door after 3 hours - smelt fumes - paint not yet fully cured. Will wait until Tuesday or Wednesday and check again, before applying the decals - imagine its best they go onto cured paint. From there, clear coat, and hang in the spare room.